Five takeaways on first day of USA Hockey WJC camp

BOSTON -- Left wing Matthew Tkachuk said he can learn a lot from center Auston Matthews on what it takes to be successful at the World Junior Championship.

Tkachuk will get that opportunity this week during USA Hockey's national junior selection camp at Agganis Arena on the campus of Boston University. The camp runs Tuesday through Friday.

Tkachuk and Matthews, each an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft, are not only linemates at camp, but roommates.

"I've been peppering his brain a little bit," said Tkachuk, who plays for London in the Ontario Hockey League. "I ask him all the little stuff. What I might expect in practice. What he expects the coaches will bring and how hard it will be. He's given me positive feedback and we'll keep taking about it because he's a very approachable guy."

Matthews, 18, will be getting plenty of attention at camp, since he not only will be a focal point for the U.S. national junior team at the IIHF 2016 World Junior Championship in Finland later this month, but also the entire tournament as the projected No. 1 chose in the 2016 NHL Draft.

"I don't think I really focused too much entering this camp as being a headliner," Matthews said. Obviously the goal is to win a gold medal and not really focus too much on yourself. For me, I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win."

The week in Boston is the first time Matthews has been in the United States since August when he participated in USA Hockey's junior evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y. The left-handed center from Scottsdale, Ariz., has been starring overseas the past four months for the Zurich Lions in Switzerland's top professional league. He has 13 goals and 23 points in 20 games for Zurich in National League A.

Joining Matthews as returnees from the 2015 U.S. national junior team that placed fifth in Montreal and Toronto are goaltenders Brandon Halverson (New York Rangers draft pick) and Alex Nedeljkovic (Carolina Hurricanes); defensemen Zachary Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Brandon Carlo (Boston Bruins); and forwards Nick Schmaltz (Chicago Blackhawks) and Sonny Milano (Columbus Blue Jackets).

Matthews was asked if he believes he can take on more of a leadership role.

"I think so; coming back I think you definitely want to take a leadership role," he said. "Whether you're a young player or not, you want to be a leader in some way on your own."

U.S. coach Ron Wilson is looking forward to seeing what Matthews can bring to his country after spending the past three months going head-to-head against professionals in Switzerland.

"He's been playing this year with men and that's the bonus he had coming here, was that he was with guys his own age or a little younger, so a lot of what he learned last year [in the WJC] he'll be able to take forward and play even better, so I'm encouraged," Wilson said.

There were 27 players participating at camp Tuesday. Left wing Paul Bittner of Portland in the Western Hockey League was invited but unable to attend after having hip surgery over the weekend. Goaltender Luke Opilka of Kitchener in the OHL needs medical clearance before joining the team at camp. He could join the team as early as Wednesday.

Here are five takeaways from the opening day of camp:

1. First line: The top line at camp has Matthews centering left wing Tkachuk and right wing Alexander DeBrincat, an A-rated skater who plays for Erie on the OHL. DeBrincat spent 2014-15 playing alongside Connor McDavid, the No. 1 pick in 2015 by the Edmonton Oilers. "I thought they looked great together," Wilson said of the Tkachuk-Matthews-DeBrincat line. "I was amazed how compatible all the lines were for an opening practice. Even the fifth-line guys (Scott Eansor, Clayton Keller and Ryan Hitchcock) looked very good." Tkachuk liked the early chemistry with his linemates. "We all bring something different to the table, but the one common thing is we're all really competitive, we're all offense and responsible in the defensive zone. If we take that approach every day, we'll be dangerous."

2. Defensive posturing: Werenski, who plays for the University of Michigan, likes what he sees along the blue line this year. Wilson said he may take as many as nine defensemen to Finland, since the group is that good this season. Werenski was paired with Carlo, his partner from last year's tournament. "He's a steady defenseman and we complement each other," Werenski said. "He moves the puck well and talks a lot on the ice, so it makes it easier." Werenski was asked what he learned from the 2015 tournament that he will take into this year if he makes the roster. "You can't come home without hardware," he said. "After finishing fifth [in 2015], that wasn't good enough. That's what has been in the back of my mind; making sure I come home with a medal."

3. Goalie competition: A quartet of goalies from the OHL are battling for three roster spots. It will likely come down to Nedeljkovic of Niagara and Halverson of Sault Ste. Marie for the No. 1 and backup role. The remaining two goalies are Opilka (St. Louis Blues) and Tyler Parsons of London. Parsons is a B-rated goalie. Wilson said no goalie entered this camp as the prohibitive favorite to start. "I would say the battle is wide open in goal and that includes Parsons; he can be our goalie too," Wilson said.

4. Depth down the middle: Serving as centers on opening day were Matthews, Christian Dvorak (Arizona Coyotes), Schmaltz, Ryan MacInnis (Arizona Coyotes) and Keller, an A-rated skater. There are as many as seven centers at camp this week, so several will have to make the adjustment if they have any intention of representing their country. "There are a lot centers and we're pushing guys to wing already," U.S. national junior team general manager Jim Johansson said. "We talked about versatility prior to camp with the players. It doesn't matter where your coach plays you at your school or club. You have to show versatility and be able to play in all situations. Obviously we're not going to play with seven centers, so it's important that guys play the wing and show that they can."

5. Surprise, surprise: Defenseman William Borgen (Buffalo Sabres) of St. Cloud State University had a nice showing on opening day in breaking up a few odd-man rushes, including a 2-on-1 against Tkachuk and DeBrincat. In addition to the top line of Tkachuk, Matthews and DeBrincat, the fifth line of Eansor, Keller and Hitchcock provided a lot of energy and enthusiasm each shift. Wilson even had the line matched against Matthews during a scrimmage.

U.S. WJC CAMP LINE COMBINATIONS

Matthew Tkachuk - Auston Matthews - Alexander DeBrincat

Sonny Milano - Christian Dvorak - Colin White

Kieffer Bellows - Nick Schmaltz - Brock Boeser

Ryan Donato - Ryan MacInnis - Anders Bjork

Scott Eansor - Clayton Keller - Ryan Hitchcock

Zachary Werenski - Brandon Carlo

Chad Krys - Charlie McAvoy

Louis Belpedio - William Borgen

Casey Fitzgerald - Brandon Fortunato

Alex Nedeljkovic

Brandon Halverson

Tyler Parsons